This report examines school district size and organization in South Carolina and their impact on student achievement and fiscal efficiency. A brief overview discusses the history of school district organization since the Civil War, the current distribution of districts across size categories in South Carolina and the nation, variations in school district governance, and the allowable methods for altering district boundaries. A review of over 60 studies of school district size suggests that smaller districts may promote student achievement while larger districts produce cost savings. The best size for efficiency may not be best for student performance. A detailed geographic description of South Carolina districts includes maps and data on racial composition, income, population density, age and sex composition, property tax base, and student achievement. Regression analyses of the impact of district size on student performance and fiscal efficiency used data from all public schools: 184 high schools, 268 middle schools, and 611 elementary schools. District size did not appear to affect achievement in elementary schools. Smaller districts promoted achievement for middle-school and high school student populations with lower socioeconomic status, while larger districts were better for higher-income populations. The non-teaching cost per student tended to decline as district size increased, although savings disappeared in the largest districts. Recommendations focus on avoiding a "one-size-fits-all" approach, given the great diversity of districts, and on providing more resources to poor and rural districts with low tax bases. Appendices contains expenditure data by district, a 61-item bibliography, and additional maps. (SV)

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